Sticky, Sweet, and Such a Treat: 5 Beijing Bubble and Fruit Teas Available Now

Ahhh bubble tea. What could be more satisfying on a hot summer day than that milky and irresistibly sweet drink that has become so ubiquitous in China? While you may already be familiar with the classic spots for bubble tea – Coco, Gongcha, and Yidiandian, etc. (more on those here) – that old guard is now contending with on-trend and internet-famous alternatives popping up all over Beijing. But be warned these hot new spots are often pricier than Coco and its ilk, and can potentially leave you cueing up for at least an hour.

Lucky for you, we've listed and ranked a few of those bubble tea hotspots so that you don’t waste any time on the bad stuff. In order to get the most authentic experience, I ordered every drink without customization, but you can adjust sugar and ice levels at every store except for The Alley.

White Rabbit

Milk Tea, RMB 20
Despite the massive hype, White Rabbit's entry into the milk tea market was a disappointment. The shop is tiny, leading to wall to wall crowds and therefore scant seating during my 10-minute wait. The amount of tea I got was disappointingly little, and nearly half of the cup was filled with ice. The flavor wasn’t impressive, either. The only thing separating this from your average milk tea was that it was slightly creamier and smoother, though that ended up diluting any tea flavor. I could barely taste the famous White Rabbit taste that is this shop's calling card. If you’re looking for a very mild milk tea, this is the place to go, but if you come in search of a memorable White Rabbit expierience, you will be sorely disappointed.

Xicha

Strawberry Cheezo, RMB 32
The reason that this drink became so popular is because of its famous “cheese cap.” Yet I got much less of a cheese flavor than I expected. The strawberry-ice blend is very refreshing; however, and the more I drank it, the sweeter it became. That being said, I would ask for less sugar next time I order it. It was hard to get a sip of both the cheese cap and the strawberry drink. Overall, the drink is pretty good, just not worth the 30-minute wait time and the price.

Grapefruit Tea, RMB 25
This drink, filled with grapefruit juice and real slices of grapefruit, was somewhat worth the 30-minute wait. It starts out tasting sweet, but the more you drink, the more the tart grapefruit flavor comes through. This drink is the perfect refresher after a day of shopping, and the slightly bitter taste will force you to drink it slowly and savor every drop, instead of chugging the whole thing at once.

The Alley

Brown Sugar Pearl Milk, RMB 22
Often known as “dirty tea,” this drink gets its name from the beautiful gradient created as the cold milk is poured on top of its pearl and brown sugar mix. The pearls were a bit too chewy, but the sweetness of the brown sugar made them very flavorful. The milk was refreshing and I could finish the whole thing without getting tired of the sweetness. My only problem with The Alley is the price. RMB 22 is a lot of money for such a tiny serving. However, the taste and the overall presentation lived up to the hype.

CouCou Hot Pot

Classic Bubble Tea, RMB 20
Even though a hot pot restaurant isn’t where you’d normally expect to find good milk tea, give CouCou a try. A small stall outside of the main hotpot shop sells the tea, and there’s usually not much of a line. The drink itself is creamy and smooth but still retains the aftertaste of oolong. The pearls are a little smaller than other varieties, but they strike a perfect balance between chewy and soft. This drink is everything you’d want in a milk tea, and honestly, RMB 20 is a pretty good value.

READ: Hot on Dianping: Superlative Service, Mouthwatering Sushi, and Authentic Beijing Cuisine

Photos: Twinings, Riley Xiong, hastaglegend.com,